HOW I WORK
My work, as a therapist, is a blend of Transactional Analysis, Person-Centred Therapy, and Gestalt. Since I have been in practice as a counsellor and therapist for over 25 years, you can well imagine that I have a style of my own that has grown out of my understanding of these three disciplines.
Every session is, for me, a serious adventure in exploration and discovery. What would it be like to be this person sitting in front of me? What are they experiencing, and what is the pain that is holding them back from living life at its fullest? And, finally, how can I be a part of their personal change and growth?
In this same vein, I do not presume to know what is good for the client or how she or he ought to think, behave, or feel. I can only follow their lead in moving toward growth and self-realization. As my therapist and friend Ann Ware used to say, “You are the only living expert on yourself.” (Clients will often hear me say this as well. Thank you, Ann.)
What I can do is to offer insights, hunches, and perceptions based upon my experience and my understanding of human processes.
I work in my own living space with two hard chairs set up to face one another. The chairs are because this is work, not relaxation, and it helps to sit up straight and to face each other as equals. I work in my own place for two reasons: By not paying $500 per month or so for office rent, I am able to keep my rates down. And being in my space allows you to see me as a person, not a function.
For me, each appointment, or session, has a kind of rhythm and shape of its own. Therefore, I do not set a precise time at which to end. Generally, my appointments run to slightly over one hour. I also accept phone calls from clients in between appointments. I want my clients to know they can count on my support when needed.
Essential to any successful therapy are, I believe, the three P’s of the therapist to client relationship as defined by Transactional Analysis:
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POTENCY
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PERMISSION
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PROTECTION
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The power and credibility
that comes from the therapist's
knowledge, experience, training,
and self-confidence.
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The client knows that he or she has the support and acceptance necessary for personal change.
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The therapist provides the safety and protection enabling the client to confront painful issues in the process of change.
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